– Crickets: Observing, Predicting, Testing and more

Using the Inquiry Wheel – Crickets

Standards

Science/Engineering: K-2 ETS1-1 Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.

Engineering: K-2 ETS1-2 Develop a physical model to solve a problem

Engineering: K-2 ETS1-3 Analyze data from tests of different objects attempting to solve the same problem as to strengths and weaknesses

CCSS.Math.Content.K.MD.B.3
Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count

WOW

A container of 10 crickets purchased from the pet store. Put them in the middle of a large under-bed tray [about 2 ft by 3 ft by 8 in. high] for the observation and experiment. Keep in a terrarium when not being tested.

TOOLS NEEDED

Child-friendly stop watches; paper scraps, markers, scissors, staplers

SCIENCE INQUIRY PROCESS

Observe: Have children gather around the bin and ask them to safely observe the crickets using all the appropriate senses.

Visual: What do they look like? What colors are they? How big are they? What body parts do you see?
Hearing: Do they make any sounds?
Smell: Do they give off an odor?
Touch: Have children take turns holding a cricket. How does it feel? How does it move?
Taste: Are they something we want to taste? Why or why not?

Ask Questions Have children brainstorm questions and record on a chart . Examples:

Are they alive? How do we know?
Can they see?
What do they eat?
Where do they live?
Do they like light or dark places?

Make Predictions

They can see because they have what look like eyes.
They like dark because they keep trying to crawl underneath other.
If we make dark places will they go inside?
How long will they stay inside?

Test

First, engineer dark places “houses” using different colored paper, different forms, different openings. Affix together using staples. Limitation: No Tape. Tape might hurt a cricket that gets stuck in it. (Engineering)
Use color and form to create a space appealing to the crickets and easily identifiable as your own. (Arts)
Time how long they stay inside using a stop watch. (Mathematics)

Record Results

Record number of crickets inside and outside every minute on a checklist
If a cricket enters a house record which house and how long it stays inside on a chart.

Compare

Did crickets go inside or not?
Graph how long they stayed in the different houses. (Mathematics)

Come to a Conclusion

Did crickets prefer the houses or being out in the open?
Which type of house did they prefer the most?

Sharing

Display a finished graph.
Display the house designs and discuss how they functioned (Arts: Responding)
Show photographs/videos of cricket behavior during test (Technology)

New Questions